Immigration Issues and Visa Reform

What is the fundamental issue?

Many real estate markets in the U.S. rely on legal immigrants and visa programs for economic innovation, growth and development. It is important that these programs remain viable for all users so that the recipients can engage in real estate transactions that help our members, clients and communities.

I am a real estate professional. What does this mean for my business?

The real estate industry benefits from a number of current visa programs that allow for tourism and foreign investment in U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets. Stable, prosperous, and secure communities enhance the nation and make it a destination of choice for those seeking to own, transact, lease and use real property.

NAR Policy:

NAR policy supports the rights of foreign citizens to own U.S. real property, opposes laws/regulations that impede that the free flow of capital, urges resolution of the undocumented immigration issue, as well as enactment of visa reforms that encourage investment in U.S. real property for business or personal reasons.

Comprehensive immigration reform has the potential to impact the economy, including commercial and residential real estate markets, in a positive manner. Foreign investors and immigrants who make a capital investment in real property and businesses that may help stimulate, stabilize, and strengthen real estate markets across the nation should be encouraged to invest and allowed to spend longer periods of time in the United States. In addition, some have argued that resolving the status of undocumented residents already in the United States has the potential to boost the national and regional economies as those individuals are able to openly seek work, invest and purchase homes and property.

NAR’s ‘Principles for Immigration Reform" were the work of a 2012 Presidential Advisory Group (PAG). Approved by the NAR Board of Directors at the May 2012 NAR meeting, NAR’s immigration policy principles support:

1. The rights of foreign citizens to acquire, own and sell U.S. real property and the right of U.S. citizens to acquire property outside of the U.S.;
2. The free flow of international capital for real estate and opposes laws and regulations that impede that flow;
3. Application of the same set of rules under the U.S. tax system to all resident owners of U.S. real estate;
4. Organized real estate’s involvement in the immigration reform debate to the extent necessary to support the creation of thriving communities and enhance the U.S. as a destination of choice for those seeking to own transact, lease and use real property; and
5. Timely federal resolution of undocumented immigration that includes (i) securing U.S. borders to prevent illegal entry, (ii) allowing for the flow of legal immigration to accommodate the labor needs of the US economy, and (iii) settling the status of undocumented immigrants in a way that acknowledges their presence in the U.S., their role in the economy, and their historic contribution to U.S. society.

Legislative/Regulatory Status/Outlook

EB-5 Visa Program Reform

The EB-5 Investor Visa Regional Center Program is a longstanding pilot program administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The regional centers and the traditional EB-5 visa process provide foreign nationals with the means to obtain a U.S. permanent residence visa after 5 years by investing a minimum of $500,000 or $1 million respectively and creating or preserving 10 or more American jobs. While the traditional EB-5 program is permanently authorized, the regional center program is a pilot that needs to be reauthorized.

Unfortunately, this progam expired on June 30, 2021.

Bills have been introduced in recent years to reform to the regional center program to address criticisms of the program, with little progress. Most recently, on September 24, 2019, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, which includes reform and long-term reauthorization of the the EB-5 Regional Center Program. There are also currently ongoing discussions with other Senate offices on their efforts to develop reforms that could garner the necessary support.

Investor Visa Regulation

On July 24, 2019, a Final Rule to reform and modernize the EB-5 program was published in the Federal Register.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued this rule to codify existing policies and reform parts of the EB-5 program.

President Biden repealed this regulation by Executive Order in March 2021.

NAR Committee:

Business Issues Policy Committee

Current Legislation/Regulation

None at this time

In-Depth

Issue summary - Immigration Issues and Visa Reform

Letters to Congress - Immigration Issues and Visa Reform

Letters to federal agencies - Immigration Issues and Visa Reform

Congressional testimonies - Immigration Issues and Visa Reform

Issue summary - Visa Investors

Letters to Congress - Visa Investors 

Letters to federal agencies - Visa Investors

Issue summary - Visa Seasonal Workers

Letters to federal agencies - Visa Seasonal Workers

Issue summary - Visa Tourism and Retirement

NAR Federal Issues Tracker

Legislative Contact(s):

Russell Riggs,
rriggs@realtors.org
202-383-1259

Regulatory Contact(s):

Russell Riggs,
rriggs@nar.realtor
202-383-1259